Introducing "Princess"

Monday, Feb 6

Now that's what I call parking

Fallen off the fence and I'm not getting back on

I was a bit on the fence in regard to the dog eating dispute. My attitude had been:  "Let them eat dog!" It's been done for centuries.  In western culture it was still very prevalent after World War 2. In Thailand it's a minority cultural habit that's hard to break. Someone compared it to the alcohol prohibition in the U.S. "Once they've had a taste and they liked it, it's hard to enforce a prohibition. Add to that the fact that it's done in all surrounding countries. Fact is many Asian countries consider the dog just another farm animal along chickens and pigs. What kept me sitting on the fence so long was the massive amount of soi dogs. Dog fights awaken me at all hours of the night. No one owns these nuisance dogs.  But it's part of Thai culture to feed stray dogs. Dogs tend to hang around were they know they are going to get fed. To solve the problem of dog population they would have to have a spay and neuter campaign of national proportions. I don't see that in the Thai budget anytime soon. The recent government crackdown has put some dog farmers out of business. Others have simply disappeared off the landscape. They are still there, just not visible.  They'll be around as long as there is money to be made across the border and no better income alternatives are offered. What made me fall off the fence was the cruelty and mistreatment used in the business. Video by MrSmithPNS

Alvin Gone GIRLCRAZY

A young lady squirrel has moved in. Alvin is literally climbing the walls and running in circles in excitement. No afternoon nap today!!  The much younger lady squirrel neighbor seems to have no immediate interest in Alvin. After all she just spent the night on the bus getting here. She's famished and tired.  Besides that, she's half his age, courtship is probably months away. She's been attacking my camera, no pictures yet!!  Two hours later:  They seem to be checking each other out between cages. I wonder if they know?  Valentine Day is next Tuesday!

SNO Live Blog Page Visits  Visitor count by Google From experience of using other counters:  Google is under counting  by as much as 1,000 per month 2007 and 2008 before the blog, the Sakon Nakhon Live Website had a total of 4,000 visitors each year Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Most searched 2009 794 1,319 1,308 1,139 1,336 1,147 1,448 1,553 1,578 2,050 2,760 3,599 Dining+Drinking 2010 2,741 2,151 2,736 3,366 2,935 2,827 3,096 2,841 2,519 3,168 3,118 3,423 Welcome Bar 2011 3,750 3,005 3,274 3,383 2,943 2,853 3,003 3,408 2,751 3,512 2,650 3,360 Escape Bar 2012 4,005 * * * * * * * * * * * Immigration

Resting Again Due to a recent string of stressful events and 'unpreparedness,"  I am again recuperating from head, shoulder and upper back aches.  Hot pads, industrial strength Thai massages by Joey, plenty fluids (refill please) and rest. These are alternate measures to more appropriate Chiropractic treatment available in Bangkok.  (Transportation,4day stay + treatment = Bt20,000)  I was too much in a hurry to follow my own advice: Have a cocktail or two before applying to a Visa extention (Year ten starts now!) The staff at Sakon Nakhon Immigration where professional and polite!!!! My stress was self induced. Cheers!!!

Furniture warehouse fire

• Huai Yang furniture warehouse fire causes  Bt1.5 Million damage  (US$33,000)
  
  http://myheartmusic.fix.gs/index.php?topic=2926
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Football season starts February 18
  
   Sakon FC at Nong Khai FC

• TIME BOMB Thailand's THB1.1 Trillion Asian Contagion Bad Debt 
  
  The Phuket Insider

• Israel Braces for Potential Attack From Iran
  
  ABC on YouTube

Football teams gearing up for a new season

Thai Division 2 League North Eastern Region

is having a lottery today to decide which team plays which team.
The result and schedule should be available within a day or two.

Local weather is now approaching from the south

bringing with it increased temperatures.  If this is the beginning of the hot season, it's definitely early, and could indicate that the rainy season will also start earlier than usual.

Thailand May Lose Top Rice Exporter Title - Southeast Asia Real Time - WSJ


Rising rice prices create rough waters for Thai river barges   Monsters & Critics

• "...over the past two months, Thai rice exports have dropped more than 50%..."  

Mutant Catfish in Khorat waters  ASTV (via Google Translate) includes Photos


Don Mueang Airport to resume operations on 6 March - Thailand News


Fighting For His Life After Disputing Decorating Bill Andrew Drummond

Hot Season Ahead!!

35C=95F 37C=98.6F

Sakon Nakhon Red Cross Fair ends Sunday

Sakon Nakhon Red Cross Fair ends Sunday 

  Sakon Nakhon Phutai-Waritchapum Marathon February 19

Nongkai International Dog Championships March 3,4,5, 

in conjunction with the Nongkai Red Cross Fair

Even worse Thai flood crisis this year unless govt is decisive - - - Aisa One

"...the La Nina phenomenon is expected to bring early rains and more storms this year."

My observation.  This year's La Nina developments are still undetermined.
Meteorological departments in various countries have varied calculations.
It will probably be another month or so before more accurate forecasts become feasible.

Hollywood against Pirates, the battle is underway


       L.O.L. 

They're marching again

They call it Sport Day. Sometimes there is sport, sometimes there is not. 

Probably the correct name would be Student activity day.

With so many parades, I'm beginning to wonder if its part of the school curriculum.

No complaint from me, but some of those costumes the girls wear, seem more appropriate in a nightclub than a teenage parade.

Sakon City Chinese New Year Celebration Finale

Not as packed as on the opening day, 

but still a very respectable crowd.

They were playing American music when I arrived

Reminiscent of the swing band era

Was a bit windy, lamps were swinging

I was a bit concerned (unnecessarily)

Stopped of to see slides of "Old Sakon"

Received a few copies to add to my collection

Had some great food (shish kabob), great entertainment, chatted with friends.
The Chinese New Years celebrations  are always on the top of my list of things to do in Sakon Nakhon.




Sakon FC 1,  Udon FC 2, in a recent preseason match












T i T (This is Thailand) Chuckle

• Prolific Bangkok underwear thief busted

More video clips of the Suphan Buri fireworks disaster 

.

Posted a previous video of a similar incident, earlier this month
That incident  in Hua Hin, was without injuries or property damage.

It's obvious that many of these 'technicians' are under-trained.

Spectators are well advised to keep a safe distance and "be aware!"
This also applies to the Bang Fai (Rocket) festival.
A few years back a spectator was decapitated by one of these rockets

The biggest shortage in today's employment market is code writers.
Code writer salaries average US$50,000 per year
Plenty of free on-line courses available
Recommend: http://www.codecademy.com

Really funny!!